Men's Basketball Will Travel to Canisius for Non-Conference Clash on Saturday, Feb. 23

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – UAlbany will travel to Canisius, a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, for a non-conference men’s basketball contest on Saturday, Feb. 23. The matchup came out of the BracketBusters pool of teams that represent 16 conferences. Game time will be announced.

The Golden Griffins, whose four wins have all come at home this season, play in the Koessler Athletic Center, a facility that seats capacity crowds of 2,176. Sophomore guard Frank Turner, the 2007 MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year, is Canisius’ top player. He averages 12.5 points, 4.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds.

UAlbany (10-11) played much better on the road in month of January by winning three of its last four away games. The Great Danes, who are currently tied for fourth in the America East Conference standings, have registered consecutive NCAA Tournament berths after capturing a pair of conference championships.

Brian Lillis, the 2007 America East Defensive Player of the Year, ranks fifth among the league’s scoring leaders at 16.1 points per game. Lillis, a 6’5” senior who is averaging 6.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists, is one of nine players at the NCAA Division I level who leads his team in points, rebounds and assists.

The Great Danes appeared on national television as part of the O’Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters series the last two seasons. UAlbany played thrilling games in narrow defeats at Virginia Commonwealth (70-67) and Boise State (83-82).